Medieval Woman: An Illuminated Book of Postcards

Medieval Woman: An Illuminated Book of Postcards by Fox, Sally. Paperback edition. ISBN: 9780821218471.

This is a book with thirty enchanting postcards reproducing illuminations of Medieval women in jewel-like colors. This is a delightful book of cards to keep or to send. These exquisite miniature paintings from manuscripts made in the late Middle Ages reveal the surprising accomplishments of the Medieval woman. This is one of several in the series by Sally Fox. A wealth of visual material has survived throughout history to document the real world of the Medieval woman. The manuscript illuminations in this book teach us about her occupations and past times and the specific tools she used. Whether she was a noblewoman, a bourgeois, or a peasant, the Medieval woman was an integral part of the economy and the society, not just an ornament or an extra pair of hands. She was active in the creative arts and worked together with men on farms and and in the developing urban trades. The upper-class women needed managerial skills to direct the many activities necessary to support and defend the manner. The skilled crafts woman often worked alongside her husband or father. Many trade guilds acknowledged such partnerships by admitting trained wives and daughters to membership. The illuminations reproduced were made between 1200 and 1500. Though the artists were illustrating romances, allegories, or religious books, their images were inspired by and record the busy and productive life of the Medieval woman, uniting us with the past.